Area Plan Ffys 2017 – 2019
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Area Plan FFYs 2017 – 2019 301 W. Railroad Street 956-682-3481 lrgvdc.org Lower Rio Grande Valley 1 Table of Contents Authorized Signature Form ............................................................................................................ 3 Area Plan Narrative ........................................................................................................................ 4 Environmental Overview ............................................................................................................ 5 Community Assessment ........................................................................................................... 5 Organizational Structure .......................................................................................................... 9 Service Delivery System, System Design, Program Development, and Innovation ............. 10 Regional Needs Summary ......................................................................................................... 14 Local Strategies Supporting Program Goals and State Strategies ............................................ 16 Section A. Area Agency on Aging Administration .............................................................. 16 Section B. Long-term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Services .................................................... 20 Section C. Access and Assistance Services .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Section D. Services to Assist Independent Living ................................................................ 24 Section E. Nutrition Services ................................................................................................ 30 Attachments .................................................................................................................................. 33 Organizational Chart ................................................................................................................. 34 Staff Activities........................................................................................................................... 36 Standard Assurances ..................................................................................................................... 37 Older Americans Act Assurances ................................................................................................ 41 Lower Rio Grande Valley 2 Authorized Signature Form The Area Plan is hereby submitted by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, for the period of October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2019. All assurances are included and are to be followed by the Area Agency on Aging of the Lower Rio Grande Valley under provisions of the Older Americans Act, as amended, during the period identified. The Area Agency on Aging of the Lower Rio Grande Valley will assume full authority to develop and administer the Area Plan in accordance with all requirements of the act and related State policy. In accepting this authority the Area Agency on Aging of the Lower Rio Grande Valley assumes the major responsibility for the development and administration of the Area Plan and serves as an advocate and focal point for individuals who are older and their caregivers in the planning and service area. The signature(s) below is of the individual(s) authorized to sign for purchase vouchers, budget amendments, expenditure reports and requests for payment; any changes to this information will be provided by the grantee by replacement of this form. Crystal Balboa, Director of Finance___________ Signature Name (Type or Print) Jose L. Gonzalez, Director of Area Agency on Aging Signature Name (Type or Print) I certify that the signatures above are the individuals authorized to sign for purchase vouchers, budget amendments, expenditure reports and requests for payment. _______________________________________ __Kenneth N. Jones, Jr., ___________________ Signature (Executive Director) Name (Type or Print) I hereby certify the governing body of the Grantee Agency has reviewed and approved the Area Plan; further, the grantee and area agency on aging will comply with the federal requirements and assurances contained in the Older Americans Act, as amended, and with appropriate Department of Aging & Disability Services, Access & Assistance-Area Agency on Aging’s outcomes for services contained in the Texas Administrative Code. _______________________________________ _Mayor Jim Darling, President_________ _____________ Signature Name (Type or Print) Date of Authorizing Official of Grantee _______________________________________ _Kenneth N. Jones, Jr. Executive Director ______________ Signature Name (Type or Print) Date of Authorizing Official of Grantee Lower Rio Grande Valley 3 Area Plan Narrative Lower Rio Grande Valley 4 Environmental Overview Community Assessment The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region is in the southernmost section of the State that includes the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy. This three-county area is approximately 3,072 square miles. The region is bordered by Mexico to the south, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, and rural areas of Starr, Brooks, and Kennedy counties to the west and north. The area is secluded from the rest of the State. It is 152 miles southwest of Corpus Christi and 148 miles southeast of Laredo. The region is also very diverse. Each of the three counties is physically and economically unique. Cameron County lies at the tip of Texas and comprises 906 square miles. According to the Secretary of State, the county has approximately 178 colonias. The county’s total population is 420,392 (American Community Survey population estimate as of July 1, 2014). The growth percentage between 2000 and 2014 is 25%. It is home to the largest city in the region, Brownsville, which is also the county seat. The combined population of Brownsville, Harlingen, and San Benito is over 70% of county’s population. Balance of the population is divided by the unincorporated areas and the municipalities of Combs, Rio Hondo, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Santa Rosa, Primera, and Indian Lakes. Hidalgo County comprises the western half of the region and is the largest of the three counties in the region spreading over 1,569 square miles. It is also among the 100 largest (78) counties in the country. The southern half of the county is more densely populated and contains twenty-one of the county’s incorporated municipalities and virtually all of its manufacturing and business operations. The majority of these municipalities are strung along Highway 83 from Sullivan City in west to Mercedes in the east. The largest city in the county is McAllen. The county seat is the City of Edinburg. The largest municipalities that include McAllen, Mission, Pharr, and Edinburg comprise a municipal cluster with a population of 379,373 or 45.65% of the county’s population. The northern half is sparsely populated and is still largely agricultural. The county also has approximately 940 colonias Lower Rio Grande Valley 5 (Secretary of State). The Hidalgo County’s population is 831,073 (American Community Survey population estimate as of July 1, 2014). Willacy County lies to the north of Cameron County and encompasses 597 square miles. It is the smallest of the three counties and it has a total population of 21,903 (American Community Survey population estimate as of July 1, 2014). This is a 9% growth from 2000. Willacy County is primarily rural, having a few small cities and towns (Lyford and San Perlita), and is home to agricultural, mining and ranching operations. The county seat of Raymondville is also its largest city with a population of 11,117 (American Community Survey population estimate as of July 1, 2014). The Valley is extremely different from any other areas of Texas and is also distinct from the rest of the border regions fronting along Mexico. The region is somewhat isolated from other metropolitan areas of Texas. It is 236 miles south of San Antonio, 152 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, and 148 miles southeast of Laredo. The Valley, however, boasts nine ports of entry into Mexico, of which four bridges are located in Cameron County, and five bridges are located in Hidalgo County. Each County has one bridge dedicated to truck traffic, such as Los Indios in Cameron County which is located between Harlingen and San Benito and the Pharr Bridge in Hidalgo County. The Valley currently has four navigation Ports along the Gulf of Mexico. They are: the Port of Harlingen, Port Mansfield, Port Isabel/San Benito and the Port of Brownsville. These ports link the Valley to the Gulf and East Coasts of the United States and various international ports. These land and seaports provide routes for export of recyclable materials, agricultural products, and electronic appliances from the region. They provide easier access to a broader range of markets than may be feasible to reach by land from other areas of Texas, the United States, and Mexico. There are three major transportation routes linking areas of the region: Interstate 69E (77), 69C (218) and 2 (83). Interstate 2 (formerly US 281) runs east to west in the Valley from Brownsville to McAllen and westward out of Hidalgo County towards Laredo. Interstate 69C (US 77) is a north-south traffic highway, which begins at Brownsville, runs concurrent with I2 to Harlingen and then north to Raymondville and out of Willacy County toward Kingsville and Corpus Christi. I69E (US 281) provides another north-south traffic highway. It begins in Brownsville,